Article beginning on page 38.
Psyche 11:38, 1904.

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3s PSYCHE [April
taken at this time. The plum, sand myrtle (in southern New Jersey) willow and other early spring flowers, and the sap of maple, birch, etc., usually attract them in considerable numbers. Chrysotoxum pubescens, several species of Pipeza, Chilosia, Syrjhus and S'ina are to be found at this time, Brachyofa vacua fre- quents sap early in May, while several species of Eristalis and HeZophil~ts frequent the early flowers. The large Criorhina verbosa was taken as early as March 30 (1902) at Medford, Mass., by Mr. C. A. Frost. C. umbratiZis and C. analis are sometimes found in May but more commonly early in June. Brachy,*alpus frontosus often appears early in April.
Myopa vicaria and M. vesimlosa of the family Conopidae are to be found on flowers, especially the plum. In the Tachinidae many species appear quite early but almost all of them are to be found later. Anthomyidae are quite common, while the graceful Cordylura and the pretty winged Tetanocera are frequently taken. During the latter part of May those interesting Ortalids, Pyrgota rtna'ata and P. valida are to be found. Many Safromyzidae, Osci'zidae and E@hydridae may be collected by sweeping over the grass or in damp sheltered places for the latter.
By far the most interesting species is the little "hammer headed fly" (Sphyracephala trevicomis Say) which -is often taken on the leaves of the (Skunk cabbage" as early as April, although found much later. I captured a specimen at the Blue Hills, Mass., June 6. The spring of the year is a good time to work out (in part) the life history of many species, the strange larvae one finds in old stumps, logs, or under stones, if taken carefully and kept under like conditions usually pupate in a short time and in a few days the imago appears. Notes and drawings should be made, or speci- mens of the larva and pupa, if you have duplicates, should be saved. MEROPE TUBER.
I am able to add another to the sixteen records given by Mr. Herbert S. Barber, in his interesting paper on the "Occurrence of the earwig-fly, Merope tuber Newman."
(Proc. Entom. Soc. Wash. VI, so).
This specimen, a
male, is in the local collection of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Philadelphia. It was captured several years ago by Mr. Philip Nell, in Fairmount Park.- C, W. John~on.
PELECINUS POLYTURATOR Drury.
Two males of this species were collected in 1902 by Mr. Owen Bryant, at Cohasset, Mass. Mr. Bryant has presented them to the " New England collection " of the Boston Society of Natural History,- C. W. Johnson.




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